BETHEL – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces an Emergency Order closure of the State of Alaska resident hunting season in the Unit 18 Kuskokwim River hunt area. This area includes the Lower Kuskokwim River drainage, both on Federal and State managed lands, where the hunting season for antlered bull moose by registration permit RM615 closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 4, 2014. Based on harvest reports received to date, the harvest quota of 100 bull moose will be reached by the closing date in this announcement and no further harvest is warranted.

The Alaska Board of Game established a registration permit hunt for bull moose in the Unit 18 Kuskokwim River hunt area. The moose population in this portion of Unit 18 is estimated at approximately 1300 moose and a harvest quota of 100 bull moose has been established by Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent overharvest of bulls. Hunting began on September 1 and harvest rates show that the harvest quota of 100 bulls will be reached by September 4, 2014. Hunters are reminded to report their harvest within 24 hours to the Bethel ADF&G office. Unsuccessful hunters and hunters that did not hunt need to report by September 25, 2014.